Instant cash advance can be helpful when you need a small-dollar loan quickly. But even a “free” instant cash app might charge a fee for rush delivery. And you may need an existing account history to qualify.
Instant cash advance apps at a glance
A few of these instant money apps require monthly membership fees, or optional membership fees for extra perks.
| Brigit | Funds within 20 minutes, or 1 to 3 days depending on membership | Free, or $9.99 monthly membership fee | $250 | |
| MoneyLion | 24 to 48 hours, or 3 to 5 business days depending on deposit method and membership | Free, or $19.99 monthly membership fee | $250 | |
| Earnin | Within minutes with Earnin’s Lightning Speed, or 1 business day for regular transfers | None | $500 | |
| B9 | Instant | $9.99 or $19.99 monthly membership fee | Up to 100% of paycheck | |
| Chime SpotMe | Instant | None | $200 | |
| Dave | Instant, or 1 to 3 business days | $1 monthly membership fee | $500 |
6 best apps that offer instant money
Best for instant delivery: Brigit
Brigit Instant Cash is one the fastest cash advance apps out there. It states you can get your requested funds within 20 minutes — but this perk is only available to eligible Brigit members. Borrow amounts are capped at $250, and you can request one advance at a time. Brigit also has the option to turn on auto-advances, which automatically deposit funds when you’re at risk of overdrafting. If you don’t see instant delivery in your account, you may still qualify for a one- to three-day turnaround time.
- Available in all states
- Get up to $250 per pay cycle
- 20-minute delivery available to select customers
- Can turn on automatic advances
- No interest or fees
- Must qualify for instant advance
- $9.99 membership fee
- Can request only one advance at a time
| Loan amount | Up to $250 |
|---|---|
| Interest rate type | Fixed |
| Loan Term | Varies |
| Turnaround time | 1 to 3 days or same-day in some circumstances |
| Loan amount | Up to $250 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | 1 to 3 days or same-day in some circumstances |
Learn more
Best for small advance amounts: MoneyLion Instacash
MoneyLion Instacash advances
The MoneyLion Instacash app offers interest-free, no-fee cash advances from $25 to $250, depending on your direct deposit activity and membership. You can request multiple advances with no cool-down period — many apps only allow for one request at a time.
Typical funding time is three to five business days, or 24- to 48- hours with a RoarMoney account. You may qualify for up to 20% of your paycheck per pay period (max of $1,000) with a RoarMoney account, and other features become available with the CreditBuilder Program, which is $19.99 per month.
- Available in: Alabama, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming
- No interest charges or credit checks
- Funding within minutes
- $25 to $250 advances
- Borrow up to 20% of your paycheck with membership
- Long turnaround time for max borrow amount
- Must have direct deposit and active checking account
- CreditBuilder Program pricey
| Loan amount | $25 – $250 |
|---|---|
| Interest rate type | Fixed |
| Loan Term | Varies |
| Turnaround time | 3 to 5 business days to external checking account, 12 to 48 hours to RoarMoney account |
| Loan amount | $25 – $250 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | 3 to 5 business days to external checking account, 12 to 48 hours to RoarMoney account |
Learn more
Best for large amounts: Earnin
Earnin allows you to borrow up to $100 a day, or up to $500 every pay period. However, the amount you can borrow depends on your income and hours worked. Unlike many cash advance apps, Earnin doesn’t require any monthly membership fees. Turnaround time can be within minutes if you qualify for Earnin’s Lighting Speed program. Otherwise, turnaround time is around one business day.
- Available in all states
- Up to $500 per pay period
- Up to $100 per day
- No membership fees
- Must verify employment and hours worked
- Borrow amount depends on hours worked
- Lightning Speed program can have a fee
| Loan amount | Up to $500 |
|---|---|
| Interest rate type | Fixed |
| Loan Term | Varies |
| Turnaround time | 2 to 3 days, or instant with Lightning Speed |
| Loan amount | Up to $500 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | 2 to 3 days, or instant with Lightning Speed |
Read Review
Best for when you need your whole paycheck: B9
B9 pay advance app
The pay advance app B9 can get you an instant advance from $300 to up to 100% of your paycheck, up to 15 days early. These limits are much higher than other options on our list.
But you’re required to have a direct deposit history with B9 to qualify. Plus, there’s a monthly membership fee to watch out for — $9.99 for advances up to $300 and $19.99 for advances up to 100% of your paycheck.
- Available in all states
- Instant turnaround once account is set up
- Advances worth up to 100% of your paycheck
- No pressure to tip
- Up to $19.99 monthly membership fee
- Must have $500 in B9 direct deposits to qualify
| Loan amount | Up to 100% of your paycheck |
|---|---|
| Interest rate type | Fixed |
| Loan Term | Not Stated |
| Turnaround time | Instant |
| Loan amount | Up to 100% of your paycheck |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | Instant |
Read Review
Best for overdraft protections: Chime SpotMe
Chime SpotMe®
Chime account holders can access Chime SpotMe, which automatically covers debit card purchases and cash withdrawals when you overdraft for up to $200. It’s simple to use and there are no fees.
But it’s only available to those with at least $200 in direct deposits to their Chime account in the previous 34 days. And you can’t receive coverage on more than $20 until you’ve built up a history of regular deposits with Chime.
- Available in all states
- Covers overdrafts instantly
- No waiting period
- No fees or tip obligations
- Only covers card purchases and cash withdrawals
- Only eligible to use with Chime checking account
- Starts at a $20 limit for new users
| Loan amount | $20 – $200 |
|---|---|
| Interest rate type | Fixed |
| Loan Term | N/A |
| Turnaround time | Repaid with next deposit |
| Loan amount | $20 – $200 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | Repaid with next deposit |
Read Review
Best for free features: Dave
Dave ExtraCash
Get an instant cash advance within eight hours with the Dave ExtraCash account. Advances top out at $500, and you’ll pay an “express fee” for same-day delivery, which costs between $0.99 to $11.99. How much you’ll pay depends on the amount you need to borrow and whether you are transferring the funds to your Dave spending account or to an external account. Tipping is optional and there is no monthly membership fee.
- Available in all states
- Interest-free advance
- No credit check
- Get funded instantly with an express fee
- No fee for standard delivery
- Pay up to $11.99 for same-day funding
- Must have a Dave spending account linked to your bank account
| Loan amount | Up to $500 |
|---|---|
| Interest rate type | Fixed |
| Loan Term | Varies |
| Turnaround time | Same business day to 3 business days |
| Loan amount | Up to $500 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | Same business day to 3 business days |
Read Review
Methodology: How we picked the best instant money apps
We consider over 15 cash advance apps, with turnaround time being the most important factor. We also regularly review our best picks for accuracy, and revise our selections to ensure our picks are the best in their categories.
Each instant money app is weighed across 10 key metrics: Turnaround time, cash advance limits, monthly subscription fees, transfer fees, tip requirements, ease of use, same-day transfer options, financial planning tools, ease of verifying account and overdraft protection features. We also considered customer reviews and BBB accreditation.
How instant money apps work
A handful of cash advance apps can get you funds within minutes, 24 hours, or allow for instant cash pickup at store front locations.
However, instant loans usually come as a paycheck advance, which means they may only be available to existing customers with an established account history. The amount you can borrow from an instant money app may also depend on your payment history and spending habits.
Additionally, many of these cash advance apps require a monthly membership fee, some reaching up to $19.99 a month.
“Instant” may also be defined as within 24 to 48 hours, or it may be same-business-day financing. On the other hand, overdraft protection is typically instant, immediately transferring funds if you were to overdraft on your account.
Can I get a $50 loan instantly?
It’s possible to get a $50 loan instantly using an instant money app. However, loan amounts of that size might not be immediately available to all users.
Cash App’s borrow feature may also allow you to borrow between $20 to $200, if you’re eligible. Brigit offers limits starting at $50 loan for first-time borrowers. But many apps like MoneyLion and Chime SpotMe require you to build a relationship with the app before offering loans of that size.
For more cash advance app options, check out our list of the best eight cash advance apps.
How to get an instant loan for free
The best way to get an instant loan at no cost is to have an existing account with a cash advance app. The longer your account history, the easier it is to get an instant loan.
Brigit, Earnin and MoneyLion are a few apps that don’t require a monthly membership fee. Dave requires a $1 membership fee, which is low compared to other apps such as B9 which requires $9.99 to $19.99.
Even though an app may not charge you a monthly fee, some apps charge for instant money transfers — even if typical advances are free. Standard, free delivery times for many of these apps are one to three business days.
As always, read the terms and conditions before signing up for a free instant money app. The fine print tells you what you need to do to qualify and any instant financing fees you may pay.
Instant money apps vs. payday loans
Both payday loans and instant money apps let you borrow money when you need it quickly, but with key differences:
- Cash advance apps offer faster processing. With a cash advance app, you can get instant funding straight from your phone. Meanwhile, payday loans can take a few days to process.
- Payday loans can get you more money. Apps for instant money have smaller loan limits, usually up to $250. But a payday loan could get you up to $500.
- Cash advance apps have lower fees. There are several free instant cash advance apps out there, although you may pay a fee for same-day financing. Payday loans almost always have fees, usually around $15 for every $100 borrowed.
- Payday loans can trap you in a cycle of debt. Payday lenders don’t necessarily check your ability to repay a loan and charge high fees to renew or roll over the loan — in states where it’s legal. This can trap borrowers in a cycle of debt.
- Cash advance apps may improve your finances. Most cash advance apps offer additional financial wellness services that help you build your credit or start an emergency fund.